Skip to content

Long-term effects of antidepressants for hot flashes?

Page last modified on: August 3, 2009
Question from Teresa: I have been taking Effexor XR to help with hot flashes after taking hormones that I had to quit "cold turkey." Are there any long-term effects from taking an antidepressant if I don't need it for depression?
Answer —Charles Loprinzi, M.D.: Of interest, Effexor (chemical name: venlafaxine) was the first of the antidepressants reported to be effective for treating hot flashes. Relatively low doses of the drug (oftentimes much lower than needed for depression) are effective. Also, the effect of this drug on hot flashes is much faster (days to a week), than the antidepressant effects of this type of medication (weeks to a month or so). I know I haven't addressed your question yet! As far as the long term side effects, I'm not aware of there being any long term side effects of using these drugs for hot flashes. I would not expect any more side effects of these drugs when used for hot flashes than when used for depression. I will say that some women do have symptoms when they stop these drugs, especially when they stop them rather abruptly. These symptoms include agitation and feeling uneasy. Therefore, weaning off these drugs slowly is recommended.

Editor's Note: If you are taking tamoxifen, it's important to know that certain antidepressants can interfere with the body’s ability to convert tamoxifen into its active form. These include Paxil (chemical name: paroxetine), Prozac (chemical name: fluoxetine), Zoloft (chemical name: sertraline), and others. Please visit the Tamoxifen section for more information.

On Wednesday, August 20, 2008, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Managing Menopausal Symptoms. Charles Loprinzi, M.D. and Mindy Goldman, M.D. answered your questions about how you can manage menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, insomnia, and more.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

A production of LiveWorld, Inc.
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

Email Updates

Stay informed about current research, online events, and more.

Please leave this field empty

Meet the Experts

Charles Loprinzi, M.D.Charles Loprinzi, M.D. is an emeritus chairman of the division of medical oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Along with hot flash management, his research focuses on ways to reduce pain as well as appetite changes caused by breast cancer treatment.

Mindy Goldman, M.D.Mindy Goldman, M.D. is an OB/GYN physician specializing in the gynecology of breast cancer patients.

Back to top

Breastcancer.org 7 East Lancaster Avenue, 3rd Floor Ardmore, PA 19003

Learn more about our commitment to your privacy

© 2009 Breastcancer.org - All rights reserved.

Breastcancer.org is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing information and community to those touched by this disease. Learn more about our commitment to providing complete, accurate, and private breast cancer information.